Pneumatic tire



.I. l. TUBBS PNEUMATIC TIRE July 25, 1939.

Filed July e, 1936 v 2 swag-sheet 1 Patented July 25, 1939 2,167,398

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

Applicatlor; 1:21:78 .6, 531870. 88,995

My invention relates to that general class of for retaining a considerably higher air pressure devices known as resilient tires, adapted to lessen than the tube 4 preferably much above the usual and eliminate so far as possible the shocks and pressure ordinarily employed in vehicle tires, the inequalities of the track or surface against which pressure depending of course upon the type of the tire may be operated in service. vehicle and the kind of tire and service inwhich 3 I w .The object of my invention is -to provide a delt is employed, but preferably sufliciently above the vice of the class described wherein the tire will pressure in the tube to enable it to serve as a remaintain a constant predetermined resiliency durserve or storage reservoir to supply additional air ing long periods of continuous operation. or fluidto the tire as the tire loses its fluid when 10 A further object of my invention is to provide in service. 10

a tire in'which suitable means are provided to pre- As shown, a valve 6 is provided extending vent undue strain upon a vehicle in case a. tire in through the rim I, inner tube 4 and the wall of use upon thewheel becomes punctured; or in the the receptacle 5 and connected by means of the event of a blow-out, to eliminate the danger of flexible conduit 1' t .the wall of the receptacle overturning or otherwise seriously injuring the at any convenient point. The valve 6 extends vehicle'and its occupants. through an opening 8 in the rim in substantially A further object is to enable a vehicle tire in the usual manner so that ,a. tire pump or other case of an ordinary blowout, to continue to funcinflating or supply means .may be attached to tion without serious. injury to the vehicle or its suitable means accessible through the outer part L occupants for at least a limited time or until re- 9 of the valve to introduce air or other fluid 20 pairs or replacement may be effected, through the valve to provide thenecessary pres- These and further objects andadvantages of sure inthe receptacle 5 and through the instrumy invention will be apparentto those skilled in mentality of themechanism of the valve to the the art from the following description. inner tube 4. The valve 6 which is constructed to Inthe accompanying drawings, wherein like or operate as a reducing valve and automatically lar reference characters indicate like or coradmit air from the receptacle to enter the tube to 1 sl p ts- Y maintain auniform pressure in the tube', will be Figure 1 is a transverse radial section of my hereinafter fully explained. v improved tire, shown mounted upon an ordinary Inthe formshown in Figure ZIghaveprovided a wheel rim; special rim l0 upon the wheel having a fluid-:tight 3 Figure 2 is a sectional view similar to that space Ii formed therein, with the outer face of shown in Figure 1, showing my improvementthe member lllspe'cially formed to receive my immounted upon a specially designed wheel'rim for provedftire. As shown, the lateral margins of use 'with one form of my improved tire; therim 10 are formed to engage the casing l2 in I Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to th at shown substantially the usual manner; The inner tube in Figs. 1 and 2 but showing my improved tire 14, however, extends only inward to a point near upona different 2371 Of Wheelrim; i the inner"marg'in s 'oflthe casing and is there IFigure 4 Sh a Central l ng tudinal Section 9 mcemented or otherwise securely attached to the a reducing air valve for use with my improved tire flexible member l5 which is arranged to cooperate o maintaining a constant p re i the pa with a suitable recess is formed in the periphery 40 of my v d tire o y supportine the of the "rimmember'lli to support the i'nember ii the 'form Shown in i e & W l mmounted in a suitable opening near the margin of such as ordinarily used upon automobile or similar th mi; ma mt o m a urt cvehicle wheels and 2 is a pneumatic tire casing of tion with the walls of the 'rim'a'nd the casing of substantially the usual or anydesired form havingthe valve is provided with a duct or passage l8 a th e ed e d 3 in all respects p e erablya extending from apoint withinthereceptacle near ordinarily st /t d. A inner u 4 bran the"extremity of the valve to a point near its proximately the usual or any desired form or conouter end where it communicates with the 1 space struction is provided within the casing and-a |i;- A flexible conduit 20 extends from the inner 50 secondary-tube or resilient receptable 5 is provided end of the valve 6" to'the outer wall of the 'rel upon its interior. The receptacle 5 is preferably ceptacle l5'todirectfluid from the receptacle into formed of rubber or other suitable material having the tube to maintain the desired pressure in the a more inelastic supporting web, such as canvas tube. The valve 'B.' is so constructed that when a or the like, imbedded therein to render itsuitable tirepump or other convenient means iors upplyin position.- In thisfomi the reducing valve 6' is ing fluid is attached through its outer end as at 2|, the member or receptacle l5 together with the space I in the rim and inner tube M will be first inflated to the desired pressure for the tube I4. When this pressure is reached the valve will operate as hereinafter explained to prevent further air from entering the tube and all the air entering the valve will remain in the receptacles until for some cause when the pressure in the tube l4 falls below the predetermined amount the reducing air valve 6' will immediately operate and again permit fluid from the receptacles I5 and II to pass into the tube l4 and renew the pressure and maintain it at the desired working amount. The several parts are so constructed and arranged that when the nut 22 upon the valve 6 is removed, the valve may be removed from the rim with the tube l4 and receptacle |5, the receptacle being preferably cemented or otherwise securely attached to the Valve.

In the form shown in Figure 3 the rim 3!] is provided with extending marginal walls as at 3|-3|, and the outer portions of the walls 3| are provided with parts 32-32 adapted to engage the clincher part 33 upon the casing 34 to maintain the casing in position, the casing being of substantially the usual or any preferred form or construction. In this form the tube 35 extends inward preferably past the inner margins of the casing 34 and there cemented or otherwise securely attached to the flexible member 36 constructed, as hereinbefore described, with rubber or other suitable sealing means enclosing an inelastic or at least a much less elastic matcrial adapted to sustain a materially higher pressure as hereinbefore described. The member or receptacle 36 extends into and serves substantially as an inner lining to the receptacle, at the periphery of the rim 38. When thus constructed the air valve 31 is provided to extend through the inner wall of the rim 30 and the inner wall of the flexible member 36 and is cemented or otherwise securely attached to the member 36. A flexible duct 38 extends from the reducing valve to the periphery of the flexible member 36 so that when a tire pump or other suitable inflating means is connected to the valve through the part 42, the receptacle 36 and tube 35 both will receive the air or fluid. When the pressure in the tire, however, reaches the desired amount the reducing valve will operate to prevent the fluid from passing into the tube 35, while continuing to enter the receptacle so that the pressure in the receptacle 36 maybe increased as desired to provide a source of supply or reserve for maintaining the pressure in the tube. When, however, the pressure in the tube for any cause falls below the desired'amoun't the valve 31 will operate to admit fluid to the tube and thus restore the pressure and maintain the same at the desired working amount.

In Figure 4 I have shown a preferred formof reducing air valve which may be employed with my improved tire. As shown, my improved valve comprises a casing 48 which may be of any desired form or construction such as is hereinbefore shown, provided with threads or other con-, venient means 4| for cooperating with a nut or other device (not shown) to positively attach the valve to a wheel rim. A part 42' is screw-threadedly mounted within the lower end of the casing 40 and a sleeve 43 is .rotatably attached to part 42'. A piston 44 is 'slidably mounted within the sleeve 43 and a flexible bellows 45 formed of rubber or other suitable means is connected atone end to the upper part of the sleeve 43 and at its opposite end to the wall of the piston 44 so as to provide a flexible air tight connection between the piston and the sleeve.

A concentric tubular member 46 is provided 5 within the casing 4|] and extends inwardly from the upper end of the casing and is provided with a screw-threaded part 41 at its lower end. As shown a part 48 is provided arranged to engage the threads upon the part 41 and a central recess 10 41' is formed at its lower end. A central projection 49 upon the piston 44 is formed to slideably fit within the recess 41 and suitable longitudinal corrugations 50 or other convenient means are provided upon the cooperating faces of 15 the recess 41 and part 49 to prevent rotation between them. In the form shown a part 5| is rotatably mounted upon the part 48 with an elastic cushion or packing ring 52 provided between the wall of the part 46 and the member 5| to prevent the escape of air or other fluid at this point. A portion 53 of the projection is of smaller 'diameter than the lower part of'the projection and this reduced part extends upward to a point near the upper end of the casing and is there provided with a concentric flange 54. As shown, a sliding part 55 is provided upon the part 53 adapted to freely move longitudinally thereof, and a tubular flexible sleeve 56 is cemented or otherwise securely attached to the exterior of the sliding part 55 at one end; its opposite end is securely attached to the under face of the flange 54, thus providing an air-tight flexible connection between the flange 54 and the member 55.

In the preferred construction shown a chamber 35 51 is provided in the member 55 and a projecting pin or other suitable means 58 is provided upon the member 53 with its projecting parts adapted to engage the end walls of the chamber so that when the part 53 is in the position shown supported by the spring 68, the part 58 is engaged with the member 55 and holds the member spaced from the part 5|. A seat 59 formedof rubber or other suitable resilient material is preferably provided at the lower face of a flange 55' at the lower end of the member 55 adapted to cooperate with the upper face of the member 5| when the member 55 is freed from the parts 58 and permitted to engage the part 5| to prevent the passage of fluid between the parts 55 and 5|.

The member 53 is provided with a central longitudinal opening 60 extending throughout its length and with a chamber 6| at its lower end. A valve 62 preferably provided with a rubber or other resilient seat 63 is provided adapted to cooperate with a central part at the upper face of the flange 54 to normally prevent the passage of air into the channel 60. As shown, a central stem 66 is provided, extending to a point below the lower end of a central projection II at the lower side of the piston 44 and a spring 64 within the chamber 6| engages a flange 65 upon the stem and resiliently urges the valve 62 toward its seat. A spring 61 is also provided between the flange 54 and the annular flange 55' at the lower end of the member 55 adapted to normally hold the having an air vent 69', is preferably provided to close the opening and exclude dust or other foreign substance. As shown, a part 10 is also provided upon the plug 69 having an internally down and-thevalve 59 closed.

. into the tube. When, however, the pressure inwhen thus constructed the plug 69 may be removed and a tire pump or other suitable source of fluid under pressure may be attached to the screw-threaded part II of the piston 44, and air or other 'fluid forced upward through the passage ill and past the valve 82, the air thus entering the receptacle is free to pass downward past the flange 54 and member 55, past the valve 59 and thence around the stem 53 and between the parts 48 and 49 into the chamber 80 whence it flows through the passage 14. and flexible conduit 38 the tube reaches a certain predetermined amount, the pressure in the chamber 80 will force the piston downward, thus permitting the spring 61 voir until repairs or to carry the member 55 downward and close the valve 58 and prevent any further escape of fluid through the opening 14. The pressure in the receptacle may then be increasedpntil any desired'pressure is secured without further increasing the pressure in the tube.

From the foregoing it is obvious that whenever the pressure in thetube or part to which the passage I4 is connected falls below the predetermined amount, the piston 44 will be forced upward by the spring 68 and the valve 59 again raised from. its seat, permitting the fluid to flow into the passage I4 and again raise the pressure to the normal working pressure desired. Under ordinary conditions when inflating the tire or the usual leakage or even leakage caused by ordinary punctures the required flow of air to the tube through the passage 14 will be comparatively small and the air velocity-through the passage will be very low and will not move the valve 15, having its stem extending into the passage, to overcome the tension of the-spring l6 and move the valve which is preferably provided with a resilient'part 11 at its head 18 to close the passage. When, however, the escape of air from the tube is very rapid as in the event of a large puncture or a blowout, the movement of air. through the passage will be very rapid and will force the valve II immediately to close and prevent a further loss of air. The wheel in the meantime being supported upon the flexible part of thereserreplacement of the injury can be made.

In case of leakage from' the high pressurereceptacle into the tube, the increased pressure in the chamber Olwillforce the piston 44 downward until the lower end of stem fillcontacts the concave upper end of. the plugs 69 an opens the valve 62, thus permitting the esca e of fluid through the openings 60 and 69', and thereby relieving the excess pressure in the tube. I

What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pneumatic tire adapted for mounting upon a wheel, and a receptacleupon said wheel, in combination with a flexible conduit within the receptacle connecting said tire and receptacle and adapted to permit a flow of fluid from the receptacle to the tire, and means adapted to automatically control said flow and maintain a predetermined pressure in the tire.

2. A receptacle adapted for mounting upon the wheel, a flexible part upon the receptacle formed to extend concentrically beyond the periphery of said wheel and a pneumatic tire adapted for mounting upon the wheel and enclosing the flexible part upon the receptacle. in combination with a valve extending into said receptacle and a conduit within the receptacle connecting the valve to a wall of the receptacle adapted to cooperate with the valve to direct a flow of fluid from the receptacle to said tire to automatically control said flow of fluid to maintain a predetermined pressure in the time. a

3. A receptacle having a flexible wall and adapted for mounting upon a wheel, and having a part extending concentrically beyond the periphery of said wheel, and a pneumatic tire 20 adapted for mounting upon the wheel and en-' closing a part of the receptacle, in combination with a valve extending into said receptacle and a conduit within the receptacle connecting the valve to a wall of the receptacle 5 adapted 'tocooperate with the valve to permit a flow of fluid from said receptacle to said tire to automatically control said flow of fluid to .maintain a predetermined pressure in the tire.

4. A receptacle having -a, flexible wall and adapted for mounting upon a wheel, and having a part projectingconcentrically beyond the periphery of said wheel and a pneumatic tire adapted for mounting upon the whee and .en-

closing a part of the receptacle, in combination with a valve extending into said receptacle and a conduit within the receptacle connecting the valve to a wall of the receptacle 'adapted to co-' operate with the valve to direct a flow of fluid from the receptacle to the tire, said valve being 40 controlled by the pressure in the tire to automatically limit said flow of fluid to maintain a predetermined pressure, in the tire.

5. A receptacle having a flexible wall andadapted for mounting upon a wheel to form the felloe thereof, a. flexible part upon the receptacle formed concentric with and adapted to project beyond the periphery of said wheel, and a pneumatic tire mounted upon the receptacle enclosing the projecting concentric part thereof, in combi- 5 nation with a valve extending into the receptacle and a conduit within the receptacle connecting said valveto a wall of the receptacle and cooperating with said valve to automatically maintain a predetermined pressurein the tire.

6. In a pneumatic tire having a high pressure. receptacle and a low pressure receptacle, a valve comprisinga casing "having an opening into the high pressure receptacle and tubular means connecting the casing to the low pressure receptacle,

means for attaching an air supply to-said casing and a passage from said attaching means to the opening into said high pressure receptacle, in combination with means within the casing for directing air from saidhigh pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means, "mechanism controlling the movement of air from'the high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means by the pressure in the low pressure recep table, and means automatically operated by a sudden fall of pressure in said low pressure receptacle adapted to prevent the opening of said tubular connecting means.

7. In a pneumatic tire having a highpressure receptacle anda low pressure receptacle, a valve ,75

comprising a casing having an opening into the high pressure receptacle and tubular means connecting the casing to the low pressure receptacle, means for attaching an air supply to said casing and a passage from said attaching means to the opening into said high pressure receptacle, in combination with means within the casing for directing air from said high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means and mechanism controlling the movement of air from the high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means by the pressure in the low pressure receptacle, and means operable from the exterior of said casing for operating said controlling means to close the passage for air from said high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means.

8. In a pneumatic tire having a high pressure receptacle and a low pressure receptacle, a valve comprising a casing having an opening into the high pressure receptacle and tubular means conmeeting the casing to the low pressure receptacle, means for attaching an air supply to said casing and a passage from said attaching means to the opening into said high pressure receptacle, in combination with means within the casing for directing air from said high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means, mechanism controlling the movement of air from the high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means by the pressure in the low pressure receptacle, and means automatically closing said tubular connecting means actuated by a sudden fall in pressure in said low pressure receptacle, and means operable from the exterior of said casing for operating said controlling means to close the passage for air from said high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means.

9. In a pneumatic tire having a high pressure receptacle and a low pressure receptacle, a valve comprising a casing having an opening into the high pressure receptacle and tubular means connecting the casing to the low pressure receptacle, means for attaching an air supply to said casing and a passage from said attaching means to the opening into said high pressure receptacle, in combination with means within the casing for directing air from said high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means, mechanism controlling the movement of air from the high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means by the pressure in the low pressure receptacle, means automatically closing said tubular connecting means actuated by a sudden fall in pressure in said low pressure receptacle, means operable from the exterior of said casing for operating the controlling mechanism to close the passage for air from said high pressure receptacle to said tubular connecting means, and means for positively locking said controlling mechanism, in such closed position.

IRA I. 'I'UBBS. 

